Your 2017 Midyear Oversight Roundup
These are the records with less than 10 ratings that sure as hell deserve more than that. I may not necessarily enjoy each of these records fully, but that does not mean that you shouldn't. |
| 1 |  | Lemaitre
Chapter One
Lemaitre is a strange project. On one hand, their production is extremely polished out and designed to please with their accessability and simplicitiy, on the other, their playful and care-free nature will most likely never allow them to get anywhere close to the time on the radio. What is it they're aiming for is quite a mystery to me. |
| 2 |  | Com Truise
Iteration
There is something off and odd about Com Truise's production style. Even if he didn't quite disclose his mastery completely on this record, a lot of what led up to its release is worth checking out. It's playful, off-the-wall and somewhat bonkers, even though it sometimes tends to be (especially on this record) quite dragging. |
| 3 |  | DJ Okawari
Compass
Top-notch production and musical arrangement that creates a certain dreamlike atmosphere. |
| 4 |  | Woman
Happy Freedom
Sleeper hit of 2017. One of the most fun and care-free albums of the year. but one that still hides a lot of profound sweetness inside. |
| 5 |  | Porcelain Raft
Microclimate
Moving on to another similar record. Microclimate features a lot of sharp and beautiful engulfing and gradually progressing melodies and songwriting tricks, from its echoic production to its strangely fitting high-pitched vocals. |
| 6 |  | Hooded Fang
Dynasty House
Hooded Fang returned with even odder release. The vocals here became even more abstract and the instrumental arrangement much less straight forward and wild. It's a much more vibrant and experimental output that might either engross or repulse you, either way, you're in for a ride. |
| 7 |  | Diagrams
Dorothy
For those, who don't mind subdued and quiet vocals, as long as the music and songwriting is pretty, because on here, it reaches from gorgeous to bittersweet. |
| 8 |  | Ariel Pink and Weyes Blood
Myths 002
No matter how much they try to sound weird and off-the-wall, this duo is just inherently sweet and joyous in every way. |
| 9 |  | Joshua Thorne
Dear Listener
Beware, it's a spoken word slam poetry session with some actually decent musical arrangement on the background. Although I did find this album to be quite a pretentious one, I also want to encourage you to try it out for yourself, because it does seem to be genuine and profound (to a certain extent). |
| 10 |  | LSP
Waves
D'you like to listen to grown men cry? Listen to this then. |
| 11 |  | Care
Luv in the Ruins
There is a subtle nuanced devilishness to this record. Each track has just the slightest hint of obscurity in it, yet always comes off with a strange prettiness. |
| 12 |  | A Projection
Framework
A pretty obvious Joy Division/New Order worship (of course, who else would it be). But some of the tracks really have a punch to them. The album, however, does seem somewhat inconsistent and the band is not exactly trying to bring much of anything new to the table, but for what it's worth, it's decent. |
| 13 |  | Drab Majesty
The Demonstration
Another New Wave shtick that seems to be oddly enough working fine. If you like yourselves some Electro/Post-Punk with a solitary echoic atmosphere, look no further. |
| 14 |  | Mr. Mitch
Devout
Mr. Mitch goes full ethrereal and echoic. It feels like this should be played in a grand empty hall. |
| 15 |  | Elemantra
Nature Trash
Elemantra switched their previous tedious and dissonantly indigestable sound into something much more spiritualistic and original. Everything, from the instrumentation, to the production to even the vocals, of whom I am still not a fan, everything changed for the better. If you like yourself some shamanistic Dreamy Shoegaze, then get your hands on this gem. |
| 16 |  | Moonloop
Devocean
As typical a Prog Metal, as you can get. But hey, they do the sound justice. |
| 17 |  | Wax Fang
Victory Laps
I'm quite afraid to recommend this album. I've shared it with about five people now and none of them liked it even close to how much I liked it. Awareness about this album is growing and its rating is falling. But it is a good Prog-Pop with a horde of synthesisers. |
| 18 |  | The Wild Reeds
The World We Built
Absolutely nonchalant and pretty Folk-Pop album full of catchy and nicely executed songs. |
| 19 |  | Valgeir Sigurdsson
Dissonance
Another ambient-ish soundtrack without a movie kind of album. Valgeir tries out going even more spacious and cold and the result is, well, certainly intriguing. |
| 20 |  | Author and Punisher
Pressure Mine
You don't necessarily have to start off with this EP, but please do check this project out, because its author (not the punisher) makes his own instruments to create as authentic an Industrial Doom sound as possible. Just keep that in min and check it out. |
| 21 |  | Dark Model
Saga
The reviewer ljubinkozivkovic summed up this extremely epic and over-the-top Electro/Classical beast the best: "... [Dark Model] seems to have had an anime movie in mind when he concieved this album." |
| 22 |  | British Sea Power
Let the Dancers Inherit the Party
This band seems to have fallen out of people's spectrum altogether. You know, they used to be pretty big back in the day. They still try to sound kind of extravagant and accessible, while still staying true to their usual calm and charming sound. Whether it works or not, you tell me. |
| 23 |  | Black Nail
A Meeting of Bliss and Trauma
Somewhat frightening and eerie, but also raw, gurgantuous and punishing release. |
| 24 |  | Altar of Betelgeuze
Among the Ruins
Do you enjoy a slow-pace, professionally crafted and heavily executed Metal music? Here y'go then. |
| 25 |  | Mesarthim
Presence
Not necessarily this EP, but anything Mesarthim has released is worth your attention. A one-man Black Metal band that is so consistently good is quite a rare precedent (that and Violet Cold). |
| 26 |  | Sinmara / Misthyrming
Split
Crushing, demonic, monstrous; those are some of the words you could use to describe the sound of this magnetic Black Metal release. I have a particular soft spot for Black Metal in my heart (heh, soft...quite ironic), so I appreciate a good BM, even when it's as standard as it gets, and this might be exactly that, but goddamn do they know how to bring it hard. |
| 27 |  | White Death
White Death
As crazy a Black Metal record as it can get, I think. |
| 28 |  | Pure Violence
White Death
This is one hell of a dense Hard-Techno-Punk (I guess) EP full of unforgiving and ruthless anger and power. |
| 29 |  | Fura
Mutandis
Basing its roots in the better side of Djent (believe it or not, but that actually exists) and Metalcore, this record is nstrumentally rich and has a dense and vibrant energy. Mechanical, hellish and dramatic. |
| 30 |  | Inferno
Gnosis Kardias (Of Transcension and Involution)
This is what happens, when all the same production they use for the overbooming Pop music is used on a Metal record...I think. Or so it sounds. |
| 31 |  | Hawks
No Cash Value
Lo-Fi Post-Punk that borrows from the more aggressive and upfront side of the genre. |
| 32 |  | The Wraith
Shadow Flag
Ugly, muddy, dissonant and raw. Raw as fuck. Let this gritty and monstrous release show you your inner beast. |
| 33 |  | Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs
Feed the Rats
As ambitious as one can get within a Stoner/Doom boundaries. |
| 34 |  | Decknamen
Philosophus
Listen, this band is really good with the instruments. Their play is quite visceral and raw. But they can never get their flat and ugly production right. Let's hope they'll get their hands on some better recording resources in the future. |
| 35 |  | The Angelus
There Will Be No Peace
If the concept of an acoustic Doom Metal album doesn't intrigue you enough, just know that this record is full of enthralling anthemic and grandiose musical passages and melancholically epic songwriting that is both chilling and also gives you a sense of certain animalistic nature. |
| 36 |  | Condenados
The Tree of Death
Listen, this is a standard Death/Doom. It's as typical as you can get. It's a decent record. If you like that genre, you'll most likely enjoy this album too. |
| 37 |  | Hanni El Khatib
Savage Times: The Complete Collection
Sonic, vicious and most importantly 'savage', this is as good a Psych-Blues-Rock as you can possibly get. |
| 38 |  | BearWolves
BearWolves
This is a fellow Sputnik project and it is packed with fantastic guitarwork and thick, heavy production. A Sputnik project of this level of quality is pretty rare, so please, do not let it slip by you. |
| 39 |  | Trvth
Arcane Sages
This is as close as anyone has come to both recreating and refreshing the old DIY sound of Black Metal from the 80s and 90s. |
| 40 |  | BNQT
Volume 1.
There is always something ghoulishly interesting about a myriad of top-tier musicians coming together to put their individual styles into one...and then failing miserably. Still, it is worth it to give this artist combo a shot., even though the result is quite campy. |
| 41 |  | Sielunvihollinen
Ruhonkantaja
Raw, raw, raw Black Metal full of guts and, I guess, hatred. |
| 42 |  | Hold On, Caulfield.
You're Not Gonna Make It
A surprisingly decent release from a bedroom Emo band. Everything is just just just good enough not to be bland, but is also a great deal inoffensive and easy-going. |
| 43 |  | Wesley Gonzalez
Excellent Musician
This record is kind of silly and childish in its nature, but also showing a decent amount of mature lyricism among the juvenile songwriting. It's definitely somewhat oddball, but all the more exciting for it. |
| 44 |  | Moon Duo
Occult Architecture Vol. 1
Some good old riff-based Heavy-Psych. What more do you need? |
| 45 |  | The Bearer
Fiction
Bring that Hardcore and Death Metal into one, see what happens. |
| 46 |  | esazlesa
Společnost psů
I kind of feel obligated to plug these guys, because they are from my home country and it's quite rare to see a band so efficient and profound in their style and musical direction (Screamo to be exact) from my neck of the woods. Just check them out, spread a good word, please. |
| 47 |  | Avec Le Soleil Sortant De Sa Bouche
Pas pire pop, I Love You So Much
A band that tries to instrumentally reinvent the genre of Post-Rock. Sure, it might seem like fighting flood with cups of water, but these guys seem to be determined enough and their instrumental finesse has a certain level of beauty to it. Besides, it has a strong Psychadelic atmosphere. |
| 48 |  | Julie's Haircut
Invocation and Ritual Dance of My Demon Twin
Okay, this one might be a little harder to digest at least because of how instrumentally rich and dense it is among its sonic experimentation. On paper, it pretty much follows any existing overarranged Rock formula, but it is ultimately much odder than that. |
| 49 |  | Supernova 1006
Unique World
Dark and obscure Industrial Post-Punk album that may have benn more interested in conceiving the atmosphere of the record than giving it something unique or outstanding. Still a decent listen though. |
| 50 |  | Communions
Blue
Lo-Fi, nonchalant and in-you-face Post-Punk dissonance. |
| 51 |  | Primo
It Could Happen to You
This is like an encyclopedia of all the Post-Punk influences there are. From the melancholic, to the raw and aggressive ones, to the upfront and morbid ones. |
| 52 |  | Radical Face
SunnMoonnEclippse
Just a complimentary mini-followup to their latest LP, that's all. |
| 53 |  | Alaskalana
Pathos And The Rising Sun
Okay, so this is either a masterfully though-through art project full of wisdom and musical innovation....or someone just thought "Hey, if I press this button, it makes a funny noise...I better push it in a certain rhythm to make music, or without a rhythm and still call it music. This outta be fun." |
| 54 |  | Azelisassath
Total Desecration of Existence
Well put-together Black Metal album that, sure, doesn't reinvent the wheel, but is at the very least a decent enough listen. |
| 55 |  | sir Was
Digging a Tunnel
Artsy and fun, but also smooth, fairly simple and easy to listen to Electronic record. |
| 56 |  | Vinnum Sabbathi
Gravity Works
Muddy, heavy and slow-pace Stoner/Doom with a lot to offer, if, of course, your patience allows it. |
| 57 |  | Shade Empire
Poetry of the Ill-Minded
Suggested by bgillesp
An over-the-top, overproduced and overdramatic Metal album. What, d'you have something more fun to listen to? |
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